The vote’s been taken. It’s over.
-- Claire Burwell (chapter 2)

Importance: After the committee discovers that the architect of their selected design is Muslim, many of the committee members panic about likely public outcry against their choice. Claire, however, maintains that Mohammad Khan is the rightful winner and that o deny him that would be inherently xenophobic. As the novel progresses, the narrative endorses Claire's view.

My mind closed towards Muslims the day they killed my brother.”“We’ve all struggled with that. But if you let them change you, they’ve won.
-- Sean Gallagher, Claire Burwell (chapter 9)

Importance: This exchange occurs between Sean and Claire, each of whom lost a loved one in the 9/11 attacks. Sean irrationally feels hatred towards all Muslims simply because the people who perpetrated the 9/11 attacks were Muslim. Claire responds by framing such xenophobia as the ultimate tragedy following the terrorist attack, and the novel endorses Claire's opposition to xenophobia.

America should be better...
-- Asma Anwar (chapter 10)